About the Church
Lapės St John the Baptist Church is a special monument of architecture and history, standing in the settlement of Lapės, on the right bank of the Neris. This church is one of the oldest sacred buildings in Kaunas district, rich in its history and cultural heritage.
Construction of the church began in 1639, when it was built by the castellan of Samogitia Jonas Alfonsas Liackis and his wife Joana. This masonry building was not only a house of prayer but also an important cultural and social centre for the local community. They also assigned the priest a tribute from the Lapės manor and donated the village of Masteikiai, and a parish was established.
For a long time the church faced difficulties, as later owners of Lapės did not support it. Nevertheless, the shrine remained an active part of the community, even though it became a filial church of Karmėlava in 1732. Later, in 1755, the village of Masteikiai was even taken away, but the parishioners did not lose hope or zeal.
At the end of the 19th century the church was significantly renovated and enlarged. Fr Andrius Rakauskas and the parishioners carried out important work in 1899, and by 1908 beautiful stained-glass windows, made by Vladislovas Pšibitnevskis in workshops in Kaunas, had been installed in the church.
In 1926–1928 services in the church began to be held in Lithuanian, which strengthened the national identity of the local people. Around 1935 the parish priest Jonas Juodeika founded a library-reading room at the church, showing that the shrine was not only a religious but also a cultural centre.
The architecture of Lapės St John the Baptist Church is unique. The building has Renaissance features, but the chancel arch is reminiscent of Gothic. The church has an almost square plan, three naves, a hall-church layout, with a symmetrical main facade and a projecting tower. The lower storey of the tower is covered with cross vaults, and the altars display 19th-century Neo-Baroque forms.
Despite its cultural and historical significance, the church faces natural threats. In February 2015 part of the fence surrounding the church slid due to an unstable slope. Although measures were taken to stabilise the slope, the problem was never fully resolved.
Nevertheless, the community always finds ways to preserve and nurture its heritage. In 2018, after a break of several years, the Lapės parish celebrated its titular feast with a procession in the tidied churchyard around the church, showing that this place continues to be a vibrant part of the community.
Lapės St John the Baptist Church is not only a place of religious practice but also a historical symbol, testifying to the faith, culture and community spirit of past generations.
Construction of the church began in 1639, when it was built by the castellan of Samogitia Jonas Alfonsas Liackis and his wife Joana. This masonry building was not only a house of prayer but also an important cultural and social centre for the local community. They also assigned the priest a tribute from the Lapės manor and donated the village of Masteikiai, and a parish was established.
For a long time the church faced difficulties, as later owners of Lapės did not support it. Nevertheless, the shrine remained an active part of the community, even though it became a filial church of Karmėlava in 1732. Later, in 1755, the village of Masteikiai was even taken away, but the parishioners did not lose hope or zeal.
At the end of the 19th century the church was significantly renovated and enlarged. Fr Andrius Rakauskas and the parishioners carried out important work in 1899, and by 1908 beautiful stained-glass windows, made by Vladislovas Pšibitnevskis in workshops in Kaunas, had been installed in the church.
In 1926–1928 services in the church began to be held in Lithuanian, which strengthened the national identity of the local people. Around 1935 the parish priest Jonas Juodeika founded a library-reading room at the church, showing that the shrine was not only a religious but also a cultural centre.
The architecture of Lapės St John the Baptist Church is unique. The building has Renaissance features, but the chancel arch is reminiscent of Gothic. The church has an almost square plan, three naves, a hall-church layout, with a symmetrical main facade and a projecting tower. The lower storey of the tower is covered with cross vaults, and the altars display 19th-century Neo-Baroque forms.
Despite its cultural and historical significance, the church faces natural threats. In February 2015 part of the fence surrounding the church slid due to an unstable slope. Although measures were taken to stabilise the slope, the problem was never fully resolved.
Nevertheless, the community always finds ways to preserve and nurture its heritage. In 2018, after a break of several years, the Lapės parish celebrated its titular feast with a procession in the tidied churchyard around the church, showing that this place continues to be a vibrant part of the community.
Lapės St John the Baptist Church is not only a place of religious practice but also a historical symbol, testifying to the faith, culture and community spirit of past generations.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Fotografijos centre – simetriškas Lapių Šv. Jono Krikštytojo bažnyčios pagrindinis fasadas.
